(ARA) Millions of Americans will not be smiling this holiday season and it’s not because they discovered coal in their stockings. They will be the teens and adults whose teeth and/or braces fall victim to the hard, sticky, chewy and gummy treats that make the holidays so yummy . . . and perilous to oral health.

“The week after Halloween is one of the busiest times of year for orthodontists,” says Dr. Gib Snow, a Los Angeles-based orthodontist. “Emergency visits spike as we see children, teens and even adults who have suffered dental injury or damaged metal braces as a result of eating candy and other treats. In fact, many treats that we commonly enjoy throughout the holiday season can be harmful to our teeth.”

If your overall dental health is good and you practice good oral hygiene, you can probably safely indulge in some holiday treats as long as you do so in moderation. However, if you have a history of breaking or weak teeth, have a lot of fillings or crowns, or wear metal braces, you may want to take some precautions to protect your teeth this holiday season.

Dr. Snow offers some simple tips:

• Try to avoid treats that are sticky (like taffy), extremely hard (peanut brittle), chewy (caramel) or crunchy (mixed nuts). These can break teeth, pull out fillings and compromise crowns and other forms of dental work.
• Stick with soft treats that melt in your mouth, such as peanut butter cups, chocolate kisses, or better yet, thinly sliced fruit. As with all high-fat, sugary foods, be sure to practice moderation, and brush and floss teeth after indulging.
• When you finish your holiday cocktail, or your teen polishes off a soft drink, don’t chew on the ice. It can damage tooth enamel and metal braces.
• After indulging in holiday treats, brush and floss thoroughly. Adults who will be enjoying lots of caffeinated beverages for the holidays may want to consider using a teeth-whitening toothpaste.
• Consider replacing metal braces with clear, removable braces like Invisalign and Invisalign Teen. These virtually invisible aligners gradually straighten teeth without metal braces, and can make the holidays a bit easier for teens (and adults) because the aligners can be removed to enjoy holiday treats. After eating, wearers brush and floss, then pop the clear aligners back in place.

Teens and adults who wear metal braces are particularly at risk during the holidays, Dr. Snow points out. Many of the treats they will enjoy during holiday parties like caramel apples, popcorn and sticky toffee don’t mix well with metal braces.

Parents should consider some additional precautions:

• Candy canes are a holiday tradition, but braces-wearers should really cross them off their holiday list altogether. Biting into this hard candy can spell disaster for metal braces.
• Replace high-risk treats with safer options, like soft or liquid treats, fresh fruit, smoothies or milkshakes.
• Be especially vigilant about dental hygiene. Food trapped in, under or behind metal braces can cause staining and tooth decay.

Teens and adults considering orthodontic treatment should weigh all the alternatives and look for options that will best suit their lifestyle, Dr. Snow advises. Alternatives to metal braces, like Invisalign and Invisalign Teen, replace traditional wire and brackets and are equally as effective for straightening teeth, according to Snow.

“When weighing treatment options, families need to consider the many impacts of orthodontic care over the entire course of treatment, which averages about a year,” says Snow. “Because clear braces are removable, there are no food restrictions and no emergency appointments for broken brackets. These can be significant factors for many families, whether it’s the holiday season or not.”

Source: www.invisalign.com

“I’ve wanted to correct my teeth for a long time and the time was right. Really right,” said Dyer. “I can’t believe I am the two millionth patient and that my treatment will be free. Of all the braces options that Drs. Polgrean and Dr. Timmeny presented to me, Invisalign Teen best fit my lifestyle and, best of all, hardly anyone will be able to tell I am straightening my teeth. I was excited about Invisalign Teen before, but now I can’t wait to get started with my treatment.”

Dr. Polgrean is equally excited for Dyer and looks forward to making her smile brighter.

“When Tessa came in for her consultation and we discussed the options, she very quickly decided on Invisalign Teen,” said Dr. Polgrean. “Invisalign is an extremely versatile treatment that can be used to treat many different types of orthodontic cases. I’m honored to be sharing this milestone with Align Technology and with Tessa.”

When introduced by Align Technology in 1999, Invisalign was viewed as one of the most significant innovations in orthodontics in nearly 20 years. Ten years later, Invisalign celebrated the treatment of its one millionth patient. Since then, the treatment’s popularity amongst adults and teens has accelerated exponentially. And only three years later, one million more patients have chosen Invisalign and Invisalign Teen. Approximately 260,000 teenagers between 11-19 years old have been treated with Invisalign since Invisalign Teen was introduced in 2008.

Source: www.invisalign.com

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‘Twilight’s’ Booboo Stewart and Singer/Actress Fivel Stewart Join Invisalign Teen® on the Red Carpet to Give Kids in Need a ‘Choice Smile’ Too

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 4 /PRNewswire/ — Teen sensation Booboo Stewart (Seth Clearwater in The Twilight Saga: Eclipse) and his sister singer/actress Fivel Stewart are donating their time and celebrity to help Invisalign Teen® give kids in America the chance to achieve their own “Choice Smile.”  read more

Dr. David Carter of Clear Ortho Solutions in Savannah,Ga | Augusta/Martinez, Ga | North Augusta, SC | Aiken, SC conducts an Invisalign Webinar, Ask the Expert presented by Align Technology, parent company of Invisalign (www.Invisalign.com) on June 18, 2010 with 750 participants in attendance around the country.

The webinar touted the tremendous advantages of the Invisalign Teen | Invisalign brand for orthodontists and dentists for their practices. Dr. Carter shared real patient cases with his colleagues with Before and After photos. Invisalign Teen and Invisalign gives patients a Clear and Simple, clinically proven alternative to traditional braces.  Several of the cases he went over consisted of patient cases in which the patient was told Invisalign Technology could not be performed. The cases were successfully treated and the patients were thrilled with the final results at one of the 4 Clear Ortho Solutions office locations. Also, a lively FAQ and Q & A forum 45 minutes in duration was conducted with candid interaction between the participants and 2010 Elite Premier Provider, orthodontist Dr. David Carter. Consistent excellent results along with large successful patient numbers have established the Elite Provider Team of Dr. David Carter and Dr. Mark Dye as the “go to team” for Invisalign Teen and Invisalign Technology in Savannah and surrounding areas which includes Pooler, Ridgeland, Port Wentworth, Thunderbolt, Fort Stewart- US Army, Hunter AAF, Garden City, Hilton Head, Statesboro, Bluffton, Rincon, Hardeeville, Richmond Hill, Pembroke, Bloomingdale, Hinesville, Midway, Beaufort, Parris Island MCRD and Claxton in Georgia GA and South Carolina SC.

Dr. David Carter meeting with Align CEO, Tom Prescott, at the American Association of Orthodontists convention in Washington, DC last week. As one of the leading Elite Providers in the country, “Dr. David” was asked to speak on Invisalign Teen and the benefits his patients have received from this state of the art treatment. As a part of the “Elite Team” with Dr. Mark Dye, he expects Invisalign treatment, and in particular, Invisalign Teen, to be a huge hit with patients in Savannah. Their partnership, Clear Ortho Solutions, will be one of the first franchises in the country to offer “Invisalign-only” treatment in their office.

Dr. Mark Dye and Dr. David Carter have teamed up in Savannah to offer patients the Only Clear Choice for your smile. Clear Ortho Solutions™ has the experience and expertise to transform your teeth into the smile you have always wanted.

June, July and August are no doubt, the months to get teen braces. Parents and their kids alike are making the important decisions on the right orthodontist and the correct technology and treatment plan for them. Gaining knowledge about the subject and just plain feeling connected with the doctor you are about to hire to transform your teen’s smile are two of the most important decisions you will make this spring and summer. Invisalign Technology and Clear Ortho Solutions give you all the options and comfort you need to feel good about these decisions.